Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Ischemic Heart Disease

Study Summary

This study will examine the health-related quality of life in patients being treated for chronic heart disease. Patients 18 years or older with chronic ischemic heart disease and left ventricular dysfunction enrolled in protocols in the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's Cardiology Branch may participate in this study. Participants will complete five questionnaires at 3 separate times during the study-once during hospitalization at the NIH Clinical Center and again at home 6 months and 1 year later. The questionnaires, described below, require a total of about 30 minutes to complete. 1. Demographic Information Sheet -General information such as age, marital status, employment, education, and history of cardiac medical procedures. 2. General Health Survey -Patient's self-assessment, on a rating scale, of physical and emotional well being. Questions are related to the ability to perform work and daily living activities, mood and state of mind, limitations on social activities, energy level, pain level, general quality of life, etc. 3. Heart Disease Survey - Patient's self-assessment, on a rating scale, of the level of physical, social, emotional and functional well being related to his or her heart condition. Questions concern fatigue level, emotional outlook, social well being, etc. 4. Angina Survey - Information on the frequency of chest pain, chest tightness, or angina. 5. Symptom Distress Survey - Patient's ranking of the degree of symptom distress from chest discomfort, difficulty breathing, heart rate irregularities, wheezing and coughing. All information provided in the questionnaires will be kept confidential. Upon request, patients will be sent a summary of the study results when the study is completed.